CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County officials approved the creation of a COVID-19 recovery and reopening task force during Tuesday night.
In a 6-3 vote, the Board of County Commissioners OK'd the task force, which will guide the county's course for reopening businesses after the pandemic. Commissioner Trevor Fuller proposed the task force, telling the board it would be made up of experts and others appointed by the BOCC.
Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio and Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris also spoke during the meeting. Harris told the board there are 15 COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities in the county. There were 89 new cases confirmed Tuesday, but Harris said increasing numbers are expected with more testing.
The exact timing of that update was not immediately known as the commissioners will be working through a variety of agenda items.
There have been 2,735 coronavirus patients in the county with 69 deaths. On Tuesday, 89 new cases were reported, up from the 57 new cases reported the previous day.
Roughly two thirds of those sicken since the beginning of the pandemic have been released from isolation, according to county officials.
On average, 7 percent of those tested for coronavirus have tested positive.
Officials may address the forthcoming decision from North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper on whether to further loosen coronavirus restrictions. Cooper is expected to announce mid-week whether the state will enter Phase 2 of reopening on Friday, when the current Phase 1 order is scheduled to expire.
